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Historic Breakthrough: Africa Launches Revolutionary HIV Prevention Injection

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In a landmark development in the fight against HIV, three African nations -South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia  have officially launched the first public rollout of lenacapavir, a revolutionary HIV prevention injection that reduces the risk of transmission by over 99.9 percent.

The rollout, which began on Monday, marks a historic milestone for a continent that bears the heaviest global burden of HIV.

According to 2024 UNAIDS data, eastern and southern Africa account for 52% of the world’s 40.8 million people living with HIV, while one in five adults in South Africa is living with the virus.

SEE MORE: HIV-Positive Ugandans Protest USAID Closure Amid Trump-Era Purge

Unitaid, the United Nations health agency, highlighted the significance of the rollout in a statement:

“The first individuals have begun using lenacapavir for HIV prevention in South Africa… making it among the first real-world use of the six monthly injectable in low-and middle-income countries.”

South Africa Leads the Way

The South African rollout is being conducted by a Wits University research unit, funded by Unitaid, with a wider national rollout expected in 2026.

While officials did not disclose how many people have received the first doses, the initiative is being hailed as a major step forward in HIV prevention.

Neighboring Zambia and Eswatini also launched the injection during World AIDS Day ceremonies, following the arrival of 1,000 doses through a U.S.-funded programme last month.

Despite its effectiveness, access remains a challenge.

In the United States, lenacapavir costs approximately R480,000 per person annually, a figure considered prohibitive for most Africans.

To improve availability, Gilead Sciences, the drug manufacturer, has committed to supplying the injection at no profit to two million people in high HIV-burden countries over the next three years. However, health experts warn this falls short of actual need.

Hope may come in 2027, when generic versions of lenacapavir are expected to become available at roughly R684 per year in more than 100 countries, thanks to agreements between Unitaid, the Gates Foundation, and Indian pharmaceutical companies.

Why Lenacapavir Is a Game-Changer

Traditional HIV prevention relies on daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, which have faced adherence challenges.

The new twice-yearly injection promises higher adherence and effectiveness, offering new hope for millions in regions hardest hit by the epidemic.

Health experts describe the rollout as a “watershed moment” for HIV prevention, signaling a new era in the fight against the disease across Africa.

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10 months ago

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Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda

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Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.

Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.

He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.

SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time

“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.

The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.

He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.

According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.

He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.

As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.

He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.

Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.

Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

 

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Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.

The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.

ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.

The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.

“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.

LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.

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‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria

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Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.

Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.

RELATED NEWS: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.

“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.

Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.

“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.

He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.

“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.

His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.

Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.

Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.

NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.

The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.

 

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